An act passed by the General Assembly and approved March 2, 1940, provided for “instruction in the public schools and colleges as to the effect of alcoholic liquors and narcotics upon the human system.” Each school superintendent, principal, and president of every university, college, or academy was required to make sure there was thirty minutes of instruction to the entire student body in assembly at least twice during a term or semester.
This chart showed that addict admissions rose sharply in the 1940s and 1950s at the Lexington and Ft. Worth U.S. Public Health Service Hospitals. Research at the Lexington facility resulted in more sophisticated and humane addiction treatment. The Lexington hospital, known as the "Narcotic Farm," closed in 1974. Donated by Sidney Louis, KHS Collections.
